Functional Fabric Fair presents latest trends

Functional Fabric Fair New York powered by Performance Days hosted 1,866 apparel industry professionals from 22 countries to preview the latest trends and source high performance functional fabrics and accessories from more than 130 regionally diverse and hand-selected textile manufacturers in the River Pavilion of Javits Center in New York, recently. The event also offered 13 complimentary educational workshops and professional networking programmes.

“After last year’s successful launch of Functional Fabric Fair powered by Performance Days, we were determined to raise the bar even higher in all aspects of the event,” said Steve McCullough, Functional Fabric Fair Event Manager in a report by Reed Exhibitions. “As the lights close on our second New York edition, we are energised with the positive response from the industry. Exhibitors built important business connections with decision-makers from many of the most recognisable brands in the US, and our attendees enjoyed a diversity of highly curated vendors sharing the newest developments in functional fabrics and performance technology. We are enthusiastic to take our experiences in New York to launch Functional Fabric Fair Portland powered by Performance Days, this October.”

“We are happy about the great success of the second edition of Functional Fabric Fair New York powered by Performance Days, thanks to our partnership with Reed Exhibitions,” said Marco Weichert, General Manager of Design & Development GmbH Textile Consult. “Same as in Performance Days in Munich, the quality of the Performance Forum showcasing the fabric and accessory highlights of the industry was appreciated by attendees. Both exhibitors and attendees honoured the outstanding focus on sustainability of the event, which started with the location of the Javits Center, the material of the booths, the selection of the Performance Forum, the speeches and much more. We now are very excited for the launch of Functional Fabric Fair powered by Performance Days Portland this fall!”

More than 130 textile manufacturers, suppliers and service providers presented their latest developments in functional fabrics, membranes plus treatments, laminates, paddings, finishes, and accessories such as yarns, tapes, prints, buttons and zippers. The exhibit hall also featured the Performance Forum – a platform unique to Performance Days / Functional Fabric Fair spotlighting the 300+ best textile and accessory innovations, as selected by a jury of sourcing experts, which could be located at the Fair by code, exhibiting company or booth number.

Respected industry leaders presented 13 complimentary workshops in the ‘Experts Talks’ series of educational programmes on the latest trends, sustainability and technological advances to full audiences at the presentation stage. Educational presentations were created in partnership with internationally recognised textile testing and research institute, Hohenstein, and featured presentations by industry experts such as colour forecaster Nora Kühner, World Sports Activewear’s Sophie Bramel, comfort innovator Dr. Jan Beringer, compression specialist Florian Girmond and sustainability advocate Ben Mead. The ‘Perspectives on Performance Panel’ was especially well attended and featured key influencers including Mat Geogson (Polygiene), Hans Kohn (Schoeller Wool), David Parkes (Concpet III) and Charles Ross (HD Wool) and moderator Emily Walzer, Managing Editor of Textile Insight Magazine. The conference “Focus Topic’, Water – Our Responsibility, was weaved into the programme, aligned with the organiser’s dedication to producing a zero-waste exhibition.